CVE-2024-0550 in anything-llm
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2024
A user who is privileged already `manager` or `admin` can set their profile picture via the frontend API using a relative filepath to then user the PFP GET API to download any valid files.
The attacker would have to have been granted privileged permissions to the system before executing this attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation and data exfiltration vector within web applications that improperly handle user profile picture uploads. The flaw exists in the application's file handling mechanism where authenticated users with manager or admin privileges can manipulate the profile picture setting functionality to access arbitrary files on the server through a relative filepath attack. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper file access controls that allow attackers to bypass normal file system restrictions and retrieve sensitive information from the application's file system. The attack requires pre-existing elevated privileges, making it a post-exploitation vector rather than an initial access method, but it significantly amplifies the impact of compromised accounts with administrative rights.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's frontend API accepting relative file paths for profile picture uploads without proper sanitization or validation of the file path components. When users with elevated privileges set their profile picture, the system processes the relative path through the PFP GET API, which then allows retrieval of files from locations outside the intended upload directory. This creates a path traversal condition where the application fails to properly resolve or restrict file access based on user permissions, enabling arbitrary file read operations. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-23 Relative Path Traversal, both of which are classified as high-risk security flaws in the CWE database. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it leverages legitimate administrative access to escalate privileges and exfiltrate sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers with manager or admin roles to access files that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. This includes configuration files, database credentials, application source code, log files, and potentially sensitive user data that may be stored in accessible directories. The ability to download any valid files through this mechanism can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and intellectual property theft. Organizations may experience significant financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage when such vulnerabilities are exploited. The vulnerability also enables attackers to gather intelligence about the application architecture, database schema, and system configurations that can be used for further attacks. The attack surface expands beyond the immediate file system access to include potential privilege escalation to other system components and services that may be accessible through the retrieved files.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing strict input validation and sanitization for all file path parameters, particularly those related to user-uploaded content. The application must enforce absolute path resolution for all file operations and reject any relative path components that could lead to path traversal attacks. Implementing proper access controls and file system permissions, along with regular security audits of file handling mechanisms, can prevent unauthorized file access. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls, input validation libraries, and regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities. The principle of least privilege should be enforced, ensuring that even privileged users cannot access files outside their designated scope. Additionally, logging and monitoring of file access operations can help detect anomalous behavior and potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should implement automated scanning tools to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in the codebase and ensure that all file system operations are properly validated against a whitelist of allowed paths and file types.